ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book focuses on built environment subjects with a special emphasis on construction-related degree programmes. It analyses issues such as the selection of a dissertation topic, writing a proposal, conducting a literature review, selecting the research approach, devising research instruments, collecting information, analysing and presenting information and producing a well-researched and written dissertation. The book provides details on how to conduct a systematic literature search and design a ‘contextual’ framework for the literature. It explains the main features of the postal survey and the interview technique, together with showing the advantages and limitations of both techniques. The book describes methods of questionnaire construction: the content of questions, types of questions, question format and the sequence of questions. It also provides details on structuring and writing a typical dissertation project.
